An Illinois federal judge questioned Tuesday what would become of a pending appeal before the full Seventh Circuit if he allows the American Academy of Pediatrics to voluntarily dismiss, without prejudice, its challenge to a Florida racketeering probe over the medical group's gender-affirming care guidelines, an issue one attorney predicted would be "hotly contested."
Law360
Illinois
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 Law360 iOS App Law360 Android App Follow Law360 on Facebook Follow Law360 on LinkedIn Follow Law360 on Twitter

TOP NEWS

Judge Probes 7th Circ. Fallout Of Ending Gender Care Fight

By Celeste Bott

An Illinois federal judge questioned Tuesday what would become of a pending appeal before the full Seventh Circuit if he allows the American Academy of Pediatrics to voluntarily dismiss, without prejudice, its challenge to a Florida racketeering probe over the medical group's gender-affirming care guidelines, an issue one attorney predicted would be "hotly contested."

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Joker' Producer Pleads Not Guilty To $100M Investment Fraud

By Lauraann Wood

The producer behind the 2019 movie "Joker" and other notable projects pled not guilty Tuesday to seven federal wire fraud charges accusing him of stealing at least $100 million from investors who thought they were putting money into future projects.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

7th Circ. Says Ind. Railroad Can't Levy Fees For Telecom Lines

By Nadia Dreid

Indiana railroad easements don't give rail companies the right to charge for access to the air above them or the ground below them, the Seventh Circuit has ruled in an opinion that means telecoms that installed fiber cables under a CSX Transportation easement won't be paying licensing fees.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Abbott, Mead Must Face Baby Formula Retrial, Mo. Panel Says

By Y. Peter Kang

A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday affirmed a new trial order in a suit accusing Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson of selling baby formula that causes a serious condition in preterm infants, agreeing with the trial court that the verdict was not supported by the evidence.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Industrial Retailer Settles Ex-Workers' 401(k) Forfeiture Suit

By Kellie Mejdrich

An Illinois federal judge on Tuesday agreed to stay a proposed class action against industrial retailer W.W. Grainger from ex-workers who alleged the company misspent forfeitures from an employee 401(k) plan, after parties told the court they had settled their dispute.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

EXPERT ANALYSIS

Opinion

Birthright Citizenship Dissents Belie Originalist Interpretation

The three dissents in the U.S. Supreme Court's recent birthright citizenship decision clashed with originalist readings of the Constitution, applying the 14th Amendment more narrowly than its drafters, and by applying contemporary and living document approaches to constitutional interpretation, says Ediberto Roman at Florida International University.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

LEGAL INDUSTRY

Are your summer associates prepared for a legal career?

How does your firm shape the summer associate experience and mentor new talent? Invite your summer associates to share their perspectives in this year’s Law360 Pulse Summer Associates Survey.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trial Firm Reid Collins To Award 3rd Set Of Associate Bonuses

By Jake Maher

Texas-based trial boutique Reid Collins & Tsai LLP is planning to dole out a third round of bonuses for the year to associates, raising their total bonus pay to between $130,000 and $170,000 on the year so far, with another round expected later in 2026.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Aperture Expands Litigation Finance Platform To $1B

By Ryan Boysen

Alternative asset manager Aperture Investors is expanding its litigation finance platform to $1 billion in total investment capacity, mostly deployed as direct loans to plaintiffs firms.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Deal Reached In Class Action Over Botched Calif. Bar Exam

By Emily Sawicki

A settlement has been reached in a proposed nationwide class action brought by bar applicants against the proctor of the botched February 2025 California bar exam, one month after the California State Bar settled its claims against the proctor.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Law Grad Says Hofstra Ignored Heart Attack Mid-Bar Exam

By Andrea Keckley

A Fordham University School of Law graduate accused Hofstra University in New York state court of failing to intervene in time when she had a heart attack in the middle of the July 2025 Bar Exam, refusing to stop the test and discouraging her peers from rendering aid.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

$190K Or $1.9M? Goldstein, DOJ 'At Impasse' Over Forfeiture

By Jeff Overley

Tom Goldstein and the U.S. Department of Justice aired dramatically divergent views Wednesday of a looming financial penalty for his fraud convictions, with the famed appellate advocate voicing constitutional objections to the DOJ's request for almost $2 million and revealing that prosecutors spurned a far smaller offer.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

DOJ Settlements Perceived As Flouting Litigation Norms

By Britain Eakin

A trend of settlements between the Trump administration and friendly parties in fast-track lawsuits to pursue policy changes has legal experts concerned about the endurance of a longstanding norm that federal courts can only hear genuine disputes between opposing parties.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

BakerHostetler Faces Possible RICO Claim From Ex-Client

By Emily Johnson

A trustee who has accused BakerHostetler and an Atlanta-based attorney of legal malpractice has asked a Georgia federal court to allow him to accuse the former de facto general counsel and business adviser of a nonprofit of violating the Georgia RICO Act.

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Q&A

She Has A Point: Shutts & Bowen's Jodi-Ann Tillman

By Dani Kass

Jodi-Ann Tillman of Shutts & Bowen LLP was brought into patent infringement litigation over drum technology just months before trial, and her performance earned high praise from opposing counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP partner Laura Ganoza.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trent McCotter Follows Blanche As DOJ's 2nd-In-Command

By Courtney Bublé

Following confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice official Trent McCotter is taking his former post as deputy attorney general on a temporary basis.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump, DOJ Say Firing Seattle US Atty Was Within Their Rights

By Emily Sawicki

The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice are fighting a demand for immediate reinstatement brought by Seattle's former top federal prosecutor, who was fired within an hour of a court appointing him to the role, arguing his due process rights were not violated.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

dark blue promo that reads 2026 Rising Stars gray blue promo that reads Law360 Pulse Lawyer Satisfaction Survey

LAW FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Aidala Bertuna

Alston & Bird

ArentFox Schiff

Armstrong Teasdale

Axinn

Baker & Hostetler

Boyden Gray

Cheronis & Parente

Cooley LLP

Covington & Burling

Davis Graham

Dowd Bennett

Esbrook PC

Foley & Lardner

HKM Employment Attorneys

Handley Farah

HeplerBroom

Linley Jones Firm

Mayer Brown

Milbank LLP

Munger Tolles

Novak Druce

Otterbourg PC

Potomac Law Group

Reid Collins

Sauder Schelkopf

Shutts & Bowen

Simon Law Firm PC

Sirianni Youtz

Swanson Martin

Thompson Coburn

TorHoerman Law

Tycko & Zavareei

Walcheske & Luzi

Winston Taylor

COMPANIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Abbott Laboratories

American Academy of Pediatrics

Aperture Investors LLC

Assicurazioni Generali

CSX Corp.

Center for Biological Diversity Inc.

Democracy Forward Foundation

Fordham University

Johnson & Johnson

New York State Bar Association

Reddit Inc.

State Bar of California

The Catholic University of America

The Endocrine Society

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

W.W. Grainger Inc.

Zayo Group Holdings Inc.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Executive Office of the President

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Communications Commission

Fish and Wildlife Service

Florida Attorney General's Office

Indiana Supreme Court

Internal Revenue Service

New York Supreme Court, New York County

St. Lucie County, Florida

Tennessee Valley Authority

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Supreme Court

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington